Automatic gun



J. C. WHITE AUTOMATIC GUN May 2,` 1933.

Filed Jan. 8, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1' dit Inveo Jose-p i W e,

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J. C. WHITE AUTOMATIC GUN May 2, 1933.

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`m/ /7 .JA fm. mw. nh mm Emw E J'. c. WHITE 41,907,164 AUTOMATIC GUN 5 s'eets-sheet 4 mm, mw m3 m3 mw QS www@ M) May 2, 1933.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 8. 1930 Patented May 2, 1933 Lamai PATENT onirica JOSEPH C. WHITE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, SBIIGNOB, vBY um ASSIGNMENTS,

TO WHITE AUTOMATIC GUN OORPORATION,

F MAINE OF PORTLAND, mh A CORPORATION AUTOMATIC GUN Application med Ianuary 8, 19811. Serial No. 419,318.

My invention relates to guns, more articularly to semi-automatic rifles adapte to be fired from the shoulder, and aims to provide a simplified, compact, rugged but lightwei ht, and otherwise improved mechanism of t e class described. While certain features of the invention relate especially to semi-automatic guns, that is, self-loading single-fire devices, other features are equally useful in connection either with handoperated or with full automatic weapons, including machine guns. As to certain common features this application constitutes a refiling of my prior applications Serial No. 46,882, filed August 23, 1915, and renewed as Renewal Serial N o. 492,635 on August 15, 1921; Serial No. 255,787, iiled September 26, 1918; and Serial No. 476,983, filed June 13, 1921.

In the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, b way of example,

Fi 1 is a left side e evatlon of a com' plete y assembled rifle of the gas-operated type' v Fig. 2 is a vertical lon itudinal section through the receiver, breec closure and associated parts;

Fig. 3 1s a view similar to Fig. 2 but with,

the breech open, the feed mechanism being omitted for the sake of clearness;

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical cross-sections' respectively on the lines 4 4 and 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a plan of the receiver alone;

Fi 9 is a vertical longitudinal section on the l1ne 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 are vertical cross-sections on the lines 10-10 and 11-11 respectively of Fig. 9; s

Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the breech closure assembly including the block proper, the action plates, the extractor and the extractor spring; l s

Fig. 13 illustrates a portion of the firing mechanism in elevation, including the striker, sear and safety devices;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line 14--14 of Fig. 3, looking down;

- Fig. 15Y is a detail view of the4 striker spring and striker spring carrier;

Fi 16 is a. perspective of an element of the ring mechanism, herein termed the disconnector, mechanically intermediate the tri er and the scar;

1g. 17 is a vertical transverse sectional device;

Fig. 18 is a plan of the rear portion of the actuator, slide or gas fork;

Figs. 19 and 20 are longitudinal, central, vertical sections substantially in continuation of each other, through the barrel and gas mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a front view of Fig. 22 1s a section on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21; i

Y Fig. 23 is a plan of the combined follower-spring and packet-ejecting spring;

Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional detail showing a release for` use in removal of a cartrid loader or packet while still full or part y so; and Y Fig. 25 is a detail showing the mounting of the ejector and the packet catch.

In the illustrative construction of the drawings, referring first to Fig. 1 the barrel is indicated at 1, t e receiver or frame at 2, and the stock at 3, the latter in this instance including a pistol grip 4 and butt 5. A separate-piece forestock or barrel-cover 6 is shown abutting the receiver and held by a strap 7 which serves also as-a base for the shoulder-strap ring 8; this forestock may be omitted if desired.

The barrel is threadedly connected to the receiver, as by means of a barrel-bushin 9 which adapts the receiver for use with ifl ferent barrels; see also Fig. 2, 3 and 7. The fore-part of the receiver has a depending lug 10 tapped to receive the screw'll by which the stock and receiver are secured toget-her. Removal of this single screw, and` of the vstrap 7 permits the barrel and receiver to be dismounted from the stock.

a cartridge view, looking forwardly, showing the safety While numerous eaturesof the invention are applicable to rearms or ordnance in general, whether recoil, gas or otherwise operated, my invention includes the provlsion of novel gas-operating mechanism.

Gas mechanism Referring now to Figs. 19 and 20, the barrel is provided with a gas-port 12, herein nearthe muzzle end. A port-housing 13 is fitted and pinned to the barrel and is bored to receive a gas-tube or supplementary chamber 14, the latter and the port-housing 13 having ports in registry with the barrelport 12. The gas tube is further supported in a collar 15 depending from a sleeve 16 surrounding andv pinned to the barrel and carrying the base 17 for the front sight 18. Ilhe forward portion of the as tube is of larger external diameter, providing a shoulder 19 Awhich abuts the collar 15. The front end of the gas tube is closed by a screw-plug 2O having a collar portion 21 surrounding and fitted to the barrel. lThe barrel is preferably rovided with one or more upwardly directed ports 22, herein in the plane of said collar portion 21, the latter being ported in radial line with the barrel ports, whereby a portion of the gas is released upwardly, counteracting any tendenc of the muzz e to climb. As illustrate the barrel terminates in a muzzle nut 23 having a series of radially disposed vents 24, whereby additional gas is released to atmosphere prior to the exit of the bullet from the barrel. l find in actual practice that such provision materially lessens the recoil.

Slidable in the gas tube 14 is a hollow pist0n 25, open forwardly but closed at its rear end. A series of annular round-bottomed grooves 2K5-may be cut in the outer surface of the piston, to facilitate its sliding action and to act as gas baffles. The rear wall of the piston 25 abuts the front wall of the action-spring housing or tube 27, the rear end of which is threaded into the breech-actuator, action slide or gas fork 28;

see also Fig. 18. The spring housing constitutes in e'ect the forward portion of said action slide. The piston l25 and the action.

spring tube 27 are mechanically but separably connected by a lug 29 on a projection at the rear of the piston, received in a slot in the spring tube. The action-spring 30 is confined between the front wall of its housing or tube 27 and an annular shoulder 81 on the spring guide-rod 32, the rear end of which is slidable in the lug 10 on the receiver, see also Figs. 2 and 3, but is held against rearward movement by a shouldered portion 33 abutting said receiver lug. The sliding spring tube 27 is guided in a bearing 34, Fig. 20, depending from a collar .35 inned on the barrel.

1 Fig. 19 the piston is shown in full lines momma 'the piston until the latter approaches the rear of its stroke.

In the illustrated embodiment l have shown a relatively small and short barrelport in combination with a ported piston having a relatively large gas-storage and expansion chamber, the piston port 25a being located intermediate the ends of the cham- In operation, when a bullet has passed the barrel-port 12, high-pressure live gas enters lthe piston 25 through this port, the port in the gas tube 14, and the then registering port 25a in the piston. As the gas in the piston reaches a pressure sufficient to overcome the resistance of the action-spring 30 and the reciprocating parts, the piston moves rearwardly, closing the barrel-port. |llhe gas is thus trapped in the piston and the gas tube, where it expands, actively, causing a continued smooth rearward movement of the piston. This steady expansive action of the gas continues throughout the major portion of the action stroke of the piston and connected parts. Before the full travel of the piston has taken place, however, the piston 4port 25a passes beyond the port-cover 14a of the gas tube, and is uncovered. A large and sudden drop of gas pressure therefore occurs, with resultant slowing down of the piston.

0n the reaction or forward stroke of the piston, effected by the expansion of the action spring which was compressed during rearward travel of the piston, the air and any remaining gas in the gas-tube are compressed, thus cushioning the rapid reaction stroke of the parts, until the piston port again registers with the barrel-port l2, when the compressed air and spent gas in the tube escape into the barrel, serving to cool the bore and to drive out any residue.

The described gas-mechanism affords a safe and positive means for operating the breech-closure, particularly one of the extreme lightness as herein disclosed. The gas is utilized ex ansively rather than by way of a violent initlal impulse or hammer-like blow characteristic of known gas systems employing a free or continuously open port 25a. The parts are .caused to move back under control rather than to be blown back by the initial gas impulse. By the described means l trap in the piston or expansion chamber a quantity of live, expanding gas sufcient, at its initial pressure, to over-balance the variable resistance to the breech openingeiort, and at its nal pressure adequate to have completed'the rearward stroke of the piston and other reciprocating parts. By thus controlling the admission of gas from the barrel, automatically taking a load-compensating quantity, irrespective of variations in suc load or resistance to breech-opening effort, I avoid the chief objections of the usual openort system, the violent and premature reech-opening effort, or the necessity of heavy reciprocating parts to store enough ener from a violent initial gas impulse to comp ete the full stroke after the pressure has dropped.

It will be understood that the described piston, in functionin to drive the breech mechanism, controls t e inflow and outflow of as, on the rearward stroke, and acts as a ucing valve to check the piston speed as it ap roaches the limit of its rearward travel. n the return or forward stroke it traps and compresses air, checking the forward speed and aording adequate time for cartridge feed, reducing the likelihood of jamming and of abrasions on the shoulder of' the cartridge case. The compressed air charge, being released only throu h the barl port, serves to scavenge an cool the re. The compensating action of the described as mechanism provides for proper, uniform reech action despite variations not only in the resistance to breech-opening eil'ort but also in explosion-'chamber pressures. If eater opening eort is needed, more gas l 1s automatically taken. If abnormally high low the barrel, adordin gas pressures are developed, the inflow of gas is automatically more quickly cut of and less gas is taken. Full functioning of the mechanism may be obtained with chamber pressures varying as widely as between 20,000 pounds below and 20,000 pounds above that of standard army ammunition.

Actz'oafslzde and breech closure The action-slide or gas fork 28 is shown separately, in lan, in Fig. 18. It is indicated in dotte lines in Fig. 1, seen respectively in forward and in retracted positions in Figs. 2- and3, while cross-sections are shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and a rear view in Fig. 6. At its forward end is the threaded collar portion 36, in which the spring housing or tube 27 is secured. Rearwardly of this collar ortion is the slide or fork proper 28, of e ongated saddle-like form, somewhat narrower at its fore.- art and with its two slide or fork ortlons spaced transversely to straddle the eed and firing mechanisms, and to lie below and in vertical alignment with the opposite side walls of the receiver 2. The gas-fork or actuator, as well as the entire gas mechanism already described, is centrally disposed becomplete lateral balance. It is substantia y completely concealed by the receiver and working part exposed.

each actuator lug 37 aped recess 42 in one of the actionand may be' stock, leaving no ug 37 (see particularl each having a bevele outer face 38 and above it a lateral rib 39. These ribs 39 work in corresponding grooves 40, 40 (see Figs. 9 and 11) 'on the inner walls of the receiver 2, while the beveled facesa 38 bear against similar surfaces 41, 41 on the receiver walls. The main, inwardly projecting portion of 1s receivedm a similarly sh lates 43 at the sides of the breech-lock, olt or closure proper 44, now to be described., l

The breech-lock and action-plate bly is seen in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, and in detail in Fig. 12. As best seen in said Fig. 12,'the action-plates 43, just mentioned, areA of inverted L-shape in section, ha lateral ribs 45 at their up er ed es. Their rear ends' abut the latera shoulders 46, 46 at the rear of the block when the latter is in elevated position that is, when its top face is in the plane of the top faces of the action-plates. These action-plates have only a lengthwise reciprocating movement in and upon the receiver, their lateral ribs 45 being guided in such movement in the way ortions 47, 47a at the opposite sides of e receiver, Figs. 9, 10 and 11, and along and upon the top of the receiver at points intermediate or rearwardly of said way portions or ways. The straight-line reciprocation which is imparted tothe action-plates 43 by the actuator 28, through the lugs 37 of the latter, transmits both a longitudinal opening and closing movement and a vertical locking and unlocking movement to the block 44.

- This is effected by means of one or more,

.The block 44, as best seen in Fig. 12, isA

a straight-line, reciprocating, non-rotary element having, in its closing action, a final vertical positive-locking movement and a corresponding vertical unlocking or preliminary movement before it moves back from the firing position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. It is a symmetrical, balanced element, rectilinear and preferably of one iecc of metal, with a minimum of materia cut away. At its forward end is a plurality of symmetrically disposed locking lugs, an uper pair 50, 50 and a lower pair 51, 51 a equally spaced from the block axis. Each lug is of relatively large cross-sectional area, these lu together providin a total locking sur ace approximately oublel that requiredforany pressre likely to be developed inservice.'

line with the locking lugs at the khead of kthe v blo-ck ybut that they are somewhat :less kin length than the distance between 'those locking lugs and shoulders 46. at the rear of the block, permitting a limited relative -f movement between `the plates and the block.

I 53, on the innerwalls-of the fore partof thogee " the receiver ways 47 and 47a.

, Before thegac-tioneslide y reaches its full` The block locking lugs cooperate with cordisposed ,locking abutments, 52, 52 and a lower pair 53,

responding-ly an upper pair receiver, just behind the explosion chamber;

7, 9 and 10.- vi ySS urnev ,now f that the 'breechy yclosure" is open, in full retracted'position as inFigB,

kthe ,action ,spring being compressedthe closing and locking actionis eifected ,as follows the 1re-expanding action spring, having ai fixed rearward bearing kagainst the receiver 'lug 10,y acts forwardly against the fore iendf of the spring housing or tube 27 to move it; and the' entire action slide kor gas-fork 28 forwardly. rr'ihrough' they actuator lugs 37 of `theglattemthe action-plates .43 are moved forwardly, carrying with them` the therewith of the` inclined ribs ,48 on the plates'.r During lthis closing ymovement the upper locking lugs. ofthe breech lblock and the llaterali-ibs i5 lof the actionlates forward position, they headl of the block brings up against the barrel. The actionplates, however, are free to continue forwardly, now moving relatively to the block, under the action ofthe final forward movement of the slide. By reason of the 45 inclined rib and groove connection between the action-plates and the block, this final relative movement of the action-plates cams the block downwardly until its upper locking lugs 50, 50 lie in front of the receiver abutments 52, 52 and its lower locking lugs are in front of the lower receiver abutments 53. 53.

'The breech closure is thus` positively locked in ring position, as seen in Figs. 2 and 7. yEhe fore ends of the action-plates at such time remain back of and out of contact with any part of the head of the block, so that no direct force of the explosion is received by them, but is transmitted entirely to the receiver, through the several locking lugs of the block and the receiver abutments with which the latter are then in line.

rrlhe unlocking and opening movements of the breech take place in reverse sequence to that described. When a cartridge has been bred and a sufficient gas pressure has been built-up in the piston to overbalance the resistance of the action-spring and other re- It will be noted, see partic -f cularly Fig.12, that the action plates are inl mariee sistance to i ther lbreech-.opening effort, the iston and slide or gas-fork movefback, taking the raction-plateskr 43 with them. During the'rst of the' rearward Amovement, of the l latter, theblock is restrained from moveyment to. ,they rear, by the receiverabutments, and consequently its inclined rib and groove. .connection kwith theaction plates must move itv vertically,fupward1y, across the` .head ofl the she1l,'1mtil its lockinglu'gsclearfthe re,

ceiver. abutments, and the upperpair of lugs 'come 'into `line vwith the: receiver ways, 47,

47a. Not until kthen is the block unlockedand rfree toopenunder the'continuing gasimpelled back movement ofthe action-slide. The gas-impelled movement of the action' :slide andfbreechfblock is suitably arrested, a; buffer similar in, principle to that of my Patent No. 1,410,436, dated y preferably byy March 2,1, .1922i and ,within the broad g scope Figs. 2, Sand 7. bevelled off at an angle of approximately d5, for' engagementr withsimilarly angled of claims of that patent.Thisbu1fer, asf.

herein shown, consists of .a single element 55 of yheavyy f spring metal secured' flat-wise. against the klower face of the rear cross, ypiece Qaof the receiver, as by. screws; see

its forward iedge 56 is eny transversely of the receiver, hereindovvn-l i wardly', giving kan extremely effective shockabsorbmg action., Referring again to the breech locking lugs 50, 50, 51, 51 extend forwardly of the actual closure face 58 of the block, affording sutiicient head-space to accommodate such variations in cartridge length as inevitably are met in service ammunition. A lip 59 at the lower portion of theblock face and having a curved upper surface provides a bottom seat for the head of a cartridge during the feeding and the extracting operations; see also Flgs. 2 and 3. This lip is interrupted by the ejector slot 60 in the under face of the block head, for passage across the ejector, to be described.

Ewtraczor; yring pin; ejector Extraction of a shell is effected automatically with the opening of the breech closure, by an extractor, indicated as a whole by the numeral 61, Fig. 12. lt comprises a top piece 62 downwardly and inwardly beveled at its sides, to seat in a like bevel-sided recess 63 in the top face of the breech block head. A toe 64 depends at the fore end of the top piece 62, having side ribs 65, 65, which fit, somewhat loosely, in vertical ways 66, 66

the breech block, and kparticularly to Fig. 12, kit will be seen that in the inner faces of the projecting portions i of the block locking lugs 50, 50. The toe terminates in a depending arcuate lip 67 adapted to fit over the rim of a shell and into the channelure thereof; see Figs. 2 and 8. This lip 67 extends but part way across' the extractor, from the right of the gun (the 5 left side as viewed in Fig. 12) ending short shell is ejected upwardly, to the right, and

forwardly.

The ejector is seen it 68 in Figs. 2 and 3, being an upright tapered member of heavy spring material having a right-,angled base I(759 whereby it is secured to the guard plate Referring again to the extrator 61, Fig. 12, there extend back from the top-piece 62, at opposite sides of the breech block, a pair of fingers 71, 71 ending'in upward nubs 72, 72. These fin ers are respectively received in grooves 73, in the forward ends of the side ribs 45, 45 of the action plates 43, 43.

The extractor is yieldably he d in position by the extractor s ring 74, an elongated flat member of suita 1e spring metal, resting u on the top of the block 44 and the actionp ates 43, 43 and constituting in eect a cover for substantially the entire breech closure assembly. At its front end the extractor spring 1s formed with the slightly depressed spring fingers 75, 75 which bear` upon the fore parts of the extractor lingers 71, 71 While the tongue portion 76 of the spring between these fingers straddles the rear of the top-piece 62 of the extractor. Thus the extractor is urged downwardly but can ride up over the rim of the cartridge as the latter is engaged in the loading operation, the extractor lip 67 then snapping down into the cartridge channelure under the action of the extractor spring. In the form illustrated this movement of the extractor is actually a slight vertical rocking action, permitted by the slight clearance between the extractor ribs 65, and their ways 66, 66 in the block, the rear of the top-piece 62 of the extractor having in'ei'ect a pivotal bearing engagement with the front edgel of the tongue 76'of the extractor spring. It

' will be noted that in the closed and locked position of the breech block, Fig. 2, the latter ls moved down with respect to the extractor which remains at the'level of the action-plates 43, still under control of its the spring material, formed b lthe firing mechanism, this butt bein as by brazing them in two, thicknesses of foldin end of the spring over upon itself. hese pins are receive in corresponding vertical holes 78, 78 in t e block, and serve both Ato position the extractor spring and, as seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 7, to retain the tiring pin 80 in its channel 81 extending axially through the block.

The tiring pin 80, as best seen Ain Fig. 7, has a butt 82, adapted tobe engaged by the striker, to be described in connection with received in a correspondingly diametere enlarged ortion at the rear of the channel 8l and being vertically slotted at 83, 83 for reception of the extractor-s ring pins 77, 77. Forward movement of the ring pin is limited by the end wall 84 of said enlarged portion of the channel 81. The firing pin is guided and centered in its channel, intermediate its ends, by the collar bearing 85.

Referring again to the receiver and breech-closure, and particularly Figs. 2, 9 and 11, the rear upper portion of the receiver is completely closed by the readily openable receiver-cap 87 pivoted at 88 between ears 89, 89 on the' side walls of the receiver, see Fig. 11. This receiver cap is held closed by the receiver-cap latch 90 pivoted at 91 in a slotted portion of the stock abutment or 4plate 92 and engaging a retaining lug 93 on the inner face of the receiver-cap, being urged toward that position by the latch spring 94. This latch is releasable when desired, by its concealed but readily accessible thumb-piece 95. The stock abutment 92 is itself anchored to the stock as by the screw 96 and the bolt 97, which extends up throu h the stock and through the guard-plate 0 and thus serves also to hold the rear of the latter in position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the entire breech closure assembly, including the parts shown in Fig. 12 and the firing pin', can readily be removed as a unit, by merely opening the receiver-cap, the gas- 'fork 28 being held retracted in the manner to be described, and withdrawing this unit upwardl and rearwardly. The previously describe connection between the actionplates 43, 43 and the gas-fork, by means of the actuating lugs 37, 37, ermits this ready dismounting of the breec block assembly. With the latter dismounted, the receiver is left'open straight through from the rear in the direct line of the axis of the barrel bore, so that the barrel and receiver may easily be cleaned from the rear, throng their full lengths. Also, any of the parts of the breech closure assembly, including 'the extractor and extractor spring, can be replaced practically instantaneously should such necessity arise. 1

v Means is provided for manually operating the v rao ' hand-action slide llnk 101.

the breech closure. As best seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, the receiver has on one outer face, the right side as herein illustrated, the handaction guide 98, of the general shape in cross-section as shown in Fig. 5. The handaction slide 99 works on this guide. In its normal inactive or rest position, at the forward end of its guide 98 it is also rotatable, through an angle of about 45, to render it inactive and hold it locked to the receiver, or to engage it operatively with the breech mechanism, herein through the gas fork. The latter has pivoted to it as by means of the hand-action lug 100, Figs. 18 and 20, the At the rear end of the latter is a lateral wing 102. A lug 103 on the hand-action slide 99 is positioned to be engaged in front of this wing when the slide is turned down, that is, clockwise facing the muzzle, by down movement of the hand-lever 104. In such down position the locking lugs 105 at the upper face of the hand-action slide are swung out from engagement in their retaining recesses 105a in the adjacent wall of the receiver. The hand slide is then free to be pulled back, to open the breech through Aengagement with the link 101 connected to the gas-fork. The lugs 105 are constructed and arranged to ride along the adjacent portion of the receiver and of the guide 98, and to hold the hand lever in its down position once it has started its back movement, and until it returns to forward position serving also to limit the turning movement of the slide and its hand-lever. Spring means 106 anchored to the receiver as at 107 is preferably provided automatically to restore the handlever to its normal up7 position as it returns forwardly, said spring means engaging over and bearing down upon one offset lug 105 and turning the slide and hand lever reversely, herein upwardly, thus disengaging the slide and the link 101 and locking the former in rest position.

It will be seen that the gas mechanism previously described is so arranged and that the hand-action mechanism is so related thereto, through the gas-fork, that the gun may be used as a hand-operated weapon at any time, or if the gas mechanism should for any reason become disabled. In fact. the gun may be operated manually with all parts of the gas mechanism in advance of the gas-fork and action-spring tube removed, if desired. During normal operation of the gun, however, the hand slide and hand lever remain at rest in out-of-the-way position, avoiding possibility of injuring the operator from aconstantly reciprocating hand-action.

Feed mchzmism Any preferred type of feed may be employed, such as a magazine with a spring elevated follower therein, loaded from a clip which does not enter the magazine, as in the Sprin field rifle or a loader, cli or so-called pac et feed whereby the cartri ges are supplied in a loader or packet which is bodily placed in the magazine space and ejected therefrom when emptied of its cartridges, a feed type well known in the art and illustrated, for example, in the U. S. Patents 513,647 and 522,603 to James P. Lee. In the present instance I have shown a novel feed of this'latter type.

As seen in Fig. 2, the magazine or feed housing 11() extends below the uard-plate 70, covering the feed opening therein, and is held by the master screw 11 previously mentioned. It is adapted to receive a loader or packet 112, see in detail in Fi rs. 21 and 22, inserted from above through t e loading and loader-ejecting opening 113 in the receiver; see Fig. 8.

Referring to said Figs. 21 and 22, a loader or packet 112 may contain any preferred number of cartrldges, its capacity being ten, in staggered relation, in the form illustrated. It comprises a light sheet metal casing including the forwardly converging side walls 114, 114, a rear wall 115 and the inturned cartridge retaining and guiding lips 116, 116 at both top and bottom. These lips are so disposed and the loader as a whole is so constructed that it may be inserted either end foremost, making it unnecessary for the operator to delay to distinguish as between top and bottom under the stress of service conditions. On the rear wall of the loader two oppositely inclined nibs 117, 117 are struck out, for alternative engagement below the nose 118 of the loader catch 119, to be more fully described. These nibs are likewise constructed and arranged to accommodate the above mentioned interchangeable positioning of the loader. Preferably the side walls of the loader or packet are formed with vertical ribs 114a, 114a, for guiding engagement with the channelure of the cartridges.

Fixed to and resting upon the bottom wall of the magazine 110, Fig. 2, is a combined follower spring and packet-ejecting spring 120, seen separately in plan in Fig. 23. One portion of this spring is reversed upon itself to form a follower or cartridgelifter spring 121, while the other portion or leaf 122 engages below one lip 116 of the packet 112, to eject the latter when emptied and released by manual operation of the packet catch 119. Y

The reversed leaf 121 of this spring 120 has its free end engaged beneath the forward part of the main lifter-arm 123 pivoted at 124, as upon the adjacent magazine wall. A stop 125 engageable with the guard plate limits upward movement of this lifter-arm. The lowermostcartridge seats upon a follower 126 formed as a finger pivoted at its rear end, as at 127 to the rear art of the lifter-arm 123. A spring 127e: etween these two parts assists in the feeding action,while the rear ends of the liflerarm 123 and the follower 126 interengage to limit the upward movement of the latter.

It will be understood that the cartrid es are fed upwardly in the loader or pac iet by the described spring follower or lifter of the magazine and are picked off alternately from the opposite sides of the loader, each topmost cartridge in turn beine' engaged and forced home into the ring chamber by the breech block. The loader and magazine are so located that the cartridges follow substantially a straight path during loading, with any necessary swinging or lift by the breech block reduced to the minimum. The magazine, and consequentlythe loader, is in such close proximity to the breech, the cartridge noses heilig scarcel one-third a cartridge-length to the rear tiereof, that accurate travel of the loading cartridge is assured. The loader may accordingly be relatively short, facilitatlng the feedin engagement of the block with the cartri ge and giving ade uate clearance space for the operation 0 all parts.

Further to insure accurate feeding of the cartridges, particularly with a loader or packet as short as herein illustrated, I may employ a cartridge retaining and guiding device intermediate the packet and the breech, such as illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, 5, 18 and 24. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 18 a rearwardly facing yoke 128 is mounted at the upper forward portion of the feed chamber, as by means of a forward flange 128a secured to the receiver lug 10 by the master screw 11. Pivoted between the two legs of this yoke 128, as at 129, 129, Figs. '2 and 18, is a yieldable cartridge guide and retainer 130, also of general U-shape, having inwardly projecting lips 131, 131 at the rear of each leg, adapted to overlie and at times engage the uppermost cartridge. The cross-portion 130a of this guide at a point below the guidepivots 129, is in engagement with the rear end of the actionspring guide rod 32, which holds the guide 130 elevated substantially in the position of Fig. 2, its upward movement being limited by the stops 1286, 1286 pro'ecing inwardly from the two legs of the yo e 128 and overlying the respective legs of the guide 130.

The guide 130 is formed with sufficient lateral resiliency and its lips 131, 131 are so shaped and arranged that they are readily spread by the cartridges in the insertion 'of a fresh packet. In case it is desired to remove a packet while cartridges still remain in it, I preferably provide means for simi- Fig. 24, said means is illustratedas a manually depressible member 132, vertically movable in the stock, with its lower end in the plane of one leg of the guide 130. Its upper end projects slightly above the receiver, terminatlng Iina finger ieee 133 by which it may be pushed down, epressin the guide lips 131 and spreading them own over the uppermost cartridges. Release of the packet latch 119will then allow the spring 120 to free or eject the packet with any cartridges therein.

Means is preferably employed whereby the breech is` caught and held open when the last cartridge has been fed and fired. Accordingly, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, I have provided a breech catch 135 formed as a forwardly extending lever having a de-.

pending arm or breech-catch release 137. At its rear end is a hub 138, see Fig. 14, by which it is supported for vertical rocking movement upon the striker stud 139, to be referred to more fully in connection with the firing mechanism.

'lhebreech catch 135 normally lies below the path of the gas fork 28, by reason of its own weight and arrangement, but ma be urged downwardly by a spring if deslred. In the lower edge of one side or fork of the gas slide 28, herein the right fork, is a retaining notch 141, positioned to come vertically opposite this breech catch when the block and gas fork are in their rear or open position. -So long as a cartridge remains in the loader,V the breech catch stays down, as in Fig.I 2 andthe block automatically `returns to closed position. But when the loader has been emptied of its last cartridge the breech catch is elevated into position to engage said retaining notch 141 of the gas slide, holding the block open. This elevation of the breech catch is herein effected through the medium of a lateral pin 142, Fig. 2, on the lifter arm 123. As the last cartridge is fed from ythe loader, this pin 142 lnoves up into engagement with a lateral projection 143 on the nose 144 at the upper end of the breech catch, forcing the latter upwardly and yieldingly holding it elevated, in readiness to snap Iinto the retaining notch 141 of the gas fork as the latter comes back. The block is thus caught and held open, indicating theneed for replenishment of the cartridge supply, in this case by the insertion of a fresh packet or loader.

With the breech thus automatically held open the loader may instantly be ejected from the magazine, by the spring portion 122 already described. To effect such ejec-.

finger of the operators hand in normal pobottom walls of which limit its motion. It

is urged forwardly, linto loader-holding position as in Fig. 2, by the spring 147 housed in the body of the catch. The catch as a whole is held in position, as best seen in said Fig. 25, by a lateral projection 148 on the base 69 .of the ejector 68, previously described, this projection extending across d1- rectly in front of the catch. The ejector thus has the additional function of positioning the loader catch.

It may now be observed, referring particularly to Fig. 2, that upon dismounting the receiver and breech closure assembly, which requires only the removal of the strap 7 and the master screw 11, and upon removing the firing or lock mechanism, the latter a unitary assembly to be described, there then remain on the stock, of the parts described, only the guard-plate 70, the ejector 68, the loader catch 119 and the stock-abutment 92 holding the receiver-cap latch 90. It will rarely be desirable to dismount any of these parts, but this may easily be done, as removal of the ejector frees the loader catch, whereupon the guard-plate and stock abutment may be taken down, by mere removal of the bolt 97, the adjacent screw 96, and the screw 149 at the fore end of the guard-plate.

The open breech closure may be returned to its closed position lof Fig. 2 at any time, before or after insertion of a fresh loader, by rearward movement of the breech-catch release 137, Figs. 2 and 3, sufficient to draw down the breech catch 135 from its retaining notch 141 in the gas fork. The gas fork and breech closure are thereupon carried forward into closed and locked position by the return expansion of the action spring 30. The breech-catch release 137 extends below the guard-plate adjacent `the magazine 110 and convenient to the operators hand.

Firing or trigger wwclam'sm The firing or trigger mechanism is a unitary assembly which, together with the breech catch already described, may readily be positioned or dismounted as a separate unit. It comprises a striker frame 150 formed to seat on the underlying platform portion 3a of the stock, Fig.V 2, being held by the bolts 151, 151 extending up through the guard plate 70. Referrin to Figs. 2, 3, 13 and 14, the striker or firing-pin hammer -152 is pivoted on the stud 139 at the fore part of the striker frame, this stud beextended at both sides of the frame to i form, at the right side, the pivot for the breech catch 135, as previously mentioned, and, at the left side, the pivot for the disconnector lever 182, described below. The striker has a head 154 of sufficient mass to insure the detonation of a cartridge primer even where the latter is relatively heavy and difiicult to indent. An anvil 155 is formed at its front face at the proper oint 4for engagement with the butt 82 of t e firing pin 80. If desired, and as shown, a roller 156 may be mounted on the striker head, to insure easy action between the striker and the under face of the block, but has been found unnecessary in practice.

Referring/to Figs. 13 and 14, and as also seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the striker 152 is provided with a cocking notch 157 at its lower end for receiving the nose 158 of the sear 159,- the latter an elongated member hung at its rear end on a pivot pin 160 in the striker frame. The parts are shown in their cocked position in Fig. 2 and in fired position in Fig. 13. The striker is cocked against the action of a spring unit comprising the striker spring 161 surrounding a rod 162 having a forked head 163 pivoted to the striker at 164, this rod being slidably supported at its rear end in a lug 165 at the upper face of the sear 159. For additional convenience in assembling, and also to provide for a certain desirable amount of play or back movement of the striker from its fired position before the spring is compressed, I preferably employ a springretainer or housing 166, seen in Figs. 2 and 13 and separately in Fig. 15, a sheet metalV cli -like device having an apertured foot 167) at each end, and having intermediate spring-enclosing side flanges 168, 168. At the forward end of the spring guide-rod 162 is a sleeve 169, free to slide on the rod, and having a collar 17() at its rear end which forms the front abutment'for the striker spring. The latter bears at its rear end against the rear foot 167 of the spring-retainer, which abuts the lug 165 on the scar.

By reason of this spring-retainer 166, the striker spring remains in place upon its guide rod, in disassembling the elements of the firing mechanism unit. It may readily be slipped off the rod, if desired, together with the sleeve 169 and the spring-retainer, these three parts retaining their relative position, as in Fig. 15, ready to be slipped back onto the guide rod. It will be noted that the forward action of the spring, to swing the striker against the firing pin, is through the sleeve 169, the latter abutting the rod head 163. The collar 170 of this sleeve brings up against the front foot 167 of the spring-retainer, allowing the striker to com- In the cocked and ready plete the last fraction of its ring movement under its acquired momentum. Similarly after firing the lstriker and the rod 162 ave a free back movement over the same limited distance until the rod head 163 again engages the front end of the sleeve 169. 'Ihis action compensates for any recoil of the firing-pin relative to the block and also provides an elicient buerin o the striker itself, through the strlker spring.

This spring 161 serves not only as the striker spring and bufer but also as the sear spring, oldin the sear nose 158 u against theunder ace of the striker hu during the firing and cooking movement thereof, in readiness to snap into the cockinwnotch 157.

telease of the Sear, to fire the ride. is controlled through the depending sear tail 172. osition of the parts, Fig. 2, the sear tail 1s engaged in a notch 173 at the rear of a disconnector or dog 174, seen separately in Fig. 16, pivoted at 175 on the shank 176 of the trigger 177.

A coil spring 178 seated in recesses in the step 179 of the'trigger and bearing upwardly against the disconnector,'urges the latter upwardly into engagement with the sear, as in Fig. 2. The trigger is pivotally suspended at the upper end of its shank 176 on a pivot pin 180 in the striker frame 150. It is urged forwardly and downwardly by the trigger-spring 181 seated in the trigger yshank and hearing upwardly against the overlying portion of the striker frame 150.

Through the medium of the disconnector 174 provision is made whereby the trig er cannot move the sear to release the stri er until the breech is completely closed and the block locked, although firing cannot in any event occur until the block is so positioned, as the firing pin is not until then in line with the primer. To this end, l employ the disconnector lever 182, previously referred to, having a hub 183 rockably supported on the left end portion of the Striker stud 139, as previously stated, see Fig. 14, and a forward arm or depressor 184. A suitable spring, herein the leaf spring 185, best seen in Figs 3 and 14, is xed at its fore end to the rear hub portion of this disconnector lever as by the screw 186, while its rear end is held under tension beneath a pin 187 of the striker frame, so that the spring exerts a down pressure at its fore end, urging the forward arm 184 of the disconnector upwardly and its rear arm 182 downwardly, out of engagement with the under or cam face 188 of a forwardly projecting nib 189 on the disconnector 174. Fig. 16.

The tip of the forward arm 184 of the disconnector lever is thus positioned in the path of a cam surface 19,0 at the lower rear end of one fork, herein the left fork, of the action-slideor as fork 28. When the latter is in its full forward position and the breech is consequently closed and locked, the fore end of the disconnector lever is up,'be hindsaid camsurface 190 on the gas fork,

and its rear end is down, out of enga ement with the disconnector and allowing t e lat-- sear disconnecting position during movement of the gas fork in either direction, and so long as the latter is in any other than full-forward breech-closing position, making it impossible to fire the gun unless the breech is closed and locked.

The disconnector 174 also functions to prevent unintentional repeats. After each shot, the trigger must be released and allowed to come forward, else the disconnector is out of position to engage and operate the sear.

It will be noted that the firing mechanism contains but six working parts, including the striker, striker spring guide-rod, sear, disconnector, disconnector lever and trigger, all of rugged construction and all bodily contained as a unit in the striker frame 150.

Safety Additional safety mechanism is desirably provided` herein associated with the disconnector 174 and with the sear. rThe disconnector, as seen in detail in F ig. 16. has a forwardly projecting finger 191 with an under surface adapted vto be engaged by an inclined cam portion 192, see Fig. 17, of a safety pin 193 extending transverselyv through and slidably supported in the stock. r1`he safety pin has a dat-topped recess 194 in its under side, by which it is guided on a portion of the uard-plate 70, the end walls of this recess imiting the movement of the pin. 1t is yieldingly held in safe or in firing position by a spring-pressed detent 195 engageable in recesses 196, 196 in the guard-plate. y

In Fig. 17, which is taken looking forwardly, the safety is in firing position, the low part of the inclined cam portion 192 being opposite the disconnector finger 191. In this position a notch 197 in the top of the safety pin is directly below a lockingpiece 198 depending from the sear, permitting the latter to be moved to release the striker. If the safety pin is pushed axially to the right, Fig. 17, the cam portion 192 ice slides up under the disconnector finger 191, swinging the latter upwardly and carrying the scar notch to a level below the tail of the sear, in a similar manner as is done by the action of the disconnector lever 182 when the breech is open. Simultaneously the notch 197' in the safety in is moved out of the plane of the locking-piece 198 of the scar, which accordingly is positively locked up. If it is in striker-cocking posltion, it cannot be moved to release the striker. Thus the rifle can be carried cocked and with a cartridge iii-the firin chamber, with absolute safety. It cannot be fired by pull on the tri ger, and is positively locked against firing y jarring or otherwise.

It will be seen in Fig. 17 that the safety pin rojects at the left side of the un when in ring position, but, when in t e safety position, its other and right end, whichV must then be pushed in in order to release the safety, is concealed in a depression 199 in the stock. For this reason the safety cannot readil be unintentionally released; on the other liand, it will be automatically applied by the weight of the gun itself, if the latter is laid upon its left side, the nor mal way for a man to lay a gun down. If desired, the two ends of the safety member 193 may additionally be differentiated by coloring them distinctively and/or by word marking.

My invention is not limited to the particlar embodiment shown and described herein, its scope being set forth in the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a gun, a receiver, a pair of action plates reciprocable therein, a reciprocable breech block between said plates, the latter having opposed lateral cam formations operatively connecting them with the breech block and providing for relative transverse movement between them and the block, and a gas-operated actuator element removably connected to each action plate symmetrically.

2. In a gun, a receiver, a breech block movable longitudinally and also transversely therein, a reciprocating action-plate along a longitudinal face of the breech block and at least partly housed therein to form a unit assembly with the breech block, said action plate being operatively connected to the breech block for effecting the movements thereof, and a gas-operated spring-returned element for reciprocating said action plate.

3. In a rifle, in combination, a receiver, a block non-rotatably slidable therein, a plurality of locking lugs symmetrically disposed on the block, a corresponding plurality of abutments on the receiver, action plates set in the sides of the block. slidably guided in the receiver and having LT-angled rib-and-,slot connection with the block, and a gas-operated actuator removably engaging the action plates, whereby the block is reciprocated longitudinally and moved transversely to bring its lu s into and out of locking engagement wit 1 the receiver abutments.

,4. lln an automatic gun, in combination with a barrel, a receiver and a non-rotary block slidable therein and also transversely movable to locked or unlocked position, an action plate adjoining and having rib-andslot connection with the block at an angle of approximately 45 to the axis of the bore, :1 gas-operable slide removably connected to the plate, a gas piston having operative engagement with the gas slide and containing a gas expansion chamber, and means to admit gas to said Achamber from the barrel.

5. In an automatic gun having a receiver and a breech block movable to forward, locked position and to retracted position therein, gas-operating means for the block including a gas tube, a gas piston slidable therein, and a gas-slide operatively associated with the piston, and one or more ac tion platesintermediate the gas-slide and breech block, said plate or plates being readily disengageable from the gas-slide and associated with and at least partly housed in the block for removal or insertion therewith as a unit.

6. A firearm of the class described, comprising a receiver, a barrel, a breech bolt cooperative therewith and equipped with operating mechanism, a rearwardly directed inclined engaging face on a portion of said mechanism, and a buffer consisting in a relatively heavy spring metal member presenting a similarly inclined engaging face to that of said operating mechanism, said buffer member being secured to the receiver but with its facepresenting portion left free to yield transversely when engaged by said engaging face of the operating mechanism.

7. A firearm of the class described, comprising a barrel, a breech bolt mounted for opening and closing movement with respect to said barrel, a packet for holding the rear portions of cartridges to be fed, a packet chamber., means for feeding cartridges from said packet, and yieldable means intermediate a positioned packet and the barrel breech and overlying the upper-most cartridge in a packet to guide it during its forward feeding movement from the packet.

8. A firearm of the class described, comprising a barrel, a breech bolt mounted for` means to move said guide means to inoperative position for removal of a loaded or partly loaded packet from its chamber.

9. In a firearm, in combination, a receiver, a barrel, a reciprocating breech-bolt Vfor the barrel, an automatically actuated, reciprocating member for controlling and operating ythe breech-bolt, a manual lever wherewith to operate said member, said lever slidably supported on the receiver and being a1- so movable into an operatively engaged position or into a normal disengaged position wherein it remains at rest during automatic operation of the firearm, and means positively locking said lever against sliding movement when in its disengaged position.

10. In a firearm of the character described, in combination a breech block, a member for icontrolling and operating the block, said member being rectilinearly slidable in parallelism with the axis of the bore y and having its major portion above said axis, a receiver with which the block' is locked in firing position, and a gas-controlled actuator removably connected to the lower portion of said member, operating automatically to pull the block transversely toward itself to unlock the block from the receiver and thereafter to move it rearwardly to open the breech.

11. A firearm of the character described, having, in combination, a breech block supported for longitudinal opening and closingv movement and also for transverse movementl to lock and unlock it, an action-plate positioned flatwise along one longitudinal face of the block andr having cam and groove connection therewith, said action-plate being longitudinally movable but restrained vfrom transverse movement, and a gas-operated actuator separably connected to said action-plate, said action-plate and block having a longitudinal opening and closing movement in unison, and `said plate having an additional longitudinal movement relative to the block during which it effects the transverse .locking or unlocking of the latter.

12. In a firearm, a barrel, a receiver therefor, a reciprocable breech block, a gas-operable actuator including a piston, a tubular action-spring housing rearwardly thereof and a fork or saddle portion adapted to straddle the feed chamber, guide means on the receiver for said fork or saddle portion, action-plates at opposite vertical longitudinal Isides of the block, and having cam and groove connection therewith, means on the receiver to guide said action-plates longitudinally and to prevent vertical movement thereof, and lugs and recesses therefor separably connecting the fork or saddle and said action-plates.

13. In a firearm, a reciprocating breech block, an extractor movably mounted at the fore end of the block, a substantially fiat extractor spring along one face of the block yieldingly holding the extractor in cartridge-engaging position, a firing in movable in a bore in the block, andp common means for securing the extractor spring in position and for confining the firing pin in the block.

14. In a firearm, a reciprocating breech block, an extractor, a spring therefor one or more vertical recesses in the block adjacent the rear end of the spring, and a like number of depending members on the spring, receivable in the respective recesses, and engageable with the firing pin to limit the lengthwise movement thereof.

15. In a firearm, a reciprocating breech block, an extractor carried by the breech block, including a horizontal adapted to seat in a recess in the upper face of the block and a cartridge-engaging toe atthe front face of the block, cooperating rib-and-groove formations on the extractor and the block providing for relative vertical sliding movement between them and also a slight rocking movement of the extractor, and spring means tending to hold the extractor in normal position on the block.

16. In a firearm, a reciprocating breech block, an extractor carried by the breech block, including a horizontal portion adapted to seat in a recess in the upper face of the blockand a cartridge-engaging toe at the front face of the block, cooperating guide formations on the extractor and the block, providing for relative vertical movement between them, and a spring tending to depress the extractor with respect to the block, said spring having two portions respectivelycngaging laterally spaced points of the extractor, each such portion being functionally sufficient by itself.

17. A cartridge-holding loader or packet for reception in a firearm comprising a sheet metal member of U-shape in cross section, including a rear wall and relatively short convergent side walls, and similar cartridge-retaining lips at both the top and the bottom of the side walls, the rear wall having two oppositely disposed ribs, one above the horizontal center line of the rear wall and offset from the vertical median line, and the other a similar distance below said horizontal center line and equally offset to the other side of said vertical median line, for alternate engagement by the same holding instrumentality of a gun, whereby the loader may be inserted either end foremost and be retained by said single holding instrumentality.

18. In a gun of the class described, a reciprocable breech block, a magazine or feed chamber below the path of the block, a cartridge loader or packet receivable in the magazine, cartridge-lifting means in the 1 magazine :for 'feeding the .cartridges succes*l 1 A1'tion'ahez'nl lof the open block and commonsivclyfrom the loader orp'acketl intol posi.-y

' spring means'1for-operatingfthe1 iiiting meansand for ejecting an .empty packet or loader.A V

19; in a gun of the class described,11a re-i1 ciprocablebreech closure including a block kand operating means therefor, :a magazine. f belcw the path oi the block, a cartridge:

' 1, loader: or packet. receivable in vthe magazine,

'lifter kmeansk tok feedI cartridgesl fromthe leader into the path of the block,1a normallyi 1 i inope'rat-iveA breech catch to .hold theclosurev open', 'means tol position the breech vcatch .for holding engagement. with'the 'closure' whenrthe last cartridge has been yfed. :out of' the loader or packet,l l manually controlled mea-ns to eject ythe empty loader. or packet atthewill 'of' thefoperator., andother inde--y pendent manual means toreleasethe breech catch.

" 'QOL'Ina'gun of the/class-described, rey

*ciprocatinfr .breech closure mechanism, 1in

cluding a on said -frame,1a scar pivoted on said :trame 1 ytoI the rear of. the striker` and .trigger pivots for, hold-ing' the striker: cocked :or :releasing 1 1 .the same, a disconnector .clement `between the scar' 'and 'trigger and Ipivoted :on .the lat-y ter `for operatively connectingcr1zdiscon-1 i necting them, .and means :controlled .by `the breech closure mechanism 1to1? placing :said i disconnector element 1n disconnecting posi,

tion so long as the breech is open.

21. In a gun of the class described, a'recil'irocating breech block carrying a firing pin, an actuator for the breech block, flrlng mechanism including a pivoted striker, a sear and a trigger, a disconnector operatively interposed between the sear and trigger and bodily pivotally supported on and by the latter, and a disconnector lever engageable by said actuator to move the disconmechanism for placing said disconnector element in disconnecting position so long as the breech is open, and other means similarly to control said disconnector element manually for safety purposes.

23. In a gun of the class described, reciprocating breech closure mechanism, including a firing pin, a striker, a sear for lil-ing pin, a strilcer,` a frame pivot. ally' supporting'the strilller,atlgger pivoted.

.mounted on the trigger and operatively .in-

.holding .the strikery cocked or releasing the same', atrigger,1a1disconnector.-piyotallyv .l

f terposed between the scar and 1 trigger for.

operatively kconnecting ori l disconnecting 1 them, a pivoted disconnector lever, a breech 1 1 1 catch, and ga'ifing-mechanism .frame ywherein said 1striker,-sear, trigger..discomctory.v f

lever and breech catch .are each pivotally mounted for: removal :and assembly. therewith as aunit.

Ina. gunof theclassdescribed, rc-r .connecting orj disconnecting them, safety land. for simultaneously. flocking the; scar rin striker-cocklng position.y l. l. 1 1.125. Ina: gunst-,the class described, a re- 1 ciprocating lbreech l closure f mechanism, in. .cludinga firing pin, a striker, asearor.l fholdingthe'strikercockedorireleasingthe.

same1,a1trigger,aidisconnector element be` tween- .the-sear and trigger for operatively means'tor moving saiddisconnector element.-

f 1 to and holding-1t .in .disconnecting position,-

ciprocating breech block, -ring mechanism.

.including a tiring pin, a1striker,1a; sear; .for fthe latter,- and a trigger, tatsafety dev-ice for operatively. connecting or disconnecting .they

litself` thereby automatically to apply ths safety when the gun is laidupon agizven. s1 e. 1

26. In a gun of the class described, in combination With a reciprocating breech block having a firing pin, a lock or firing mechanism assembly adapted to be mounted or dismounted as a unit, said assembly comprising a striker frame, a striker pivoted thereon, a sear movable on the frame, spring means actuating the striker and also urging the sear to cocking engagement With the latter, a trigger pivoted on the frame, and a pivoted element operatively intermediate the scar and trigger to connect or disconnect the same.

27. In a gun of the class described, in combination with a reciprocating breech block having a firing pin, a lock or firing mechanism assembly adapted to be mounted or dismounted as a unit, said assembly comprising a striker frame, a striker pivoted thereon, a'sea-r pivoted on the Aframe, spring means actuating the striker and also urging the sear to cooking engagement With the latter, a trigger pivoted on the frame, a pivoted element operatively intermediate the sear and trigger to connect or disconnect the same, and an automatic disconnector lever pivoted coaxially With the striker.

28. In a gun of the class described, in combination with a reciprocating breech scar .andthetrigger and/or for locking the Iscar. and the. striker in cooking relation,- said- 'de'vice' including l afn l operating portion: pro-i )"ectingy externally` laterally beyond adjacent -partsi when itz ifs `inf fn'on--safe- :position: andA adapted to be actuated. by the-weight. of the.

block having a firing in, a lock or firin mechanism assembly a apted to be mounted or dismounted as a unit, said assembly cemprising a striker frame, a striker movable l thereon, a sear pivoted on the frame, spring means actuating the striker and also urgin the Sear to cooking engagement With the latter, a trigger pivoted on the frame, a pivoted element operatively intermediate the sear and trigger to connect or disconnect the same, and a breech catch pivoted adjacent the striker.

29. In a firing mechanism for a gun of the class described, a pivoted striker, a finger-like sear pivoted near its rear end and engageable at its fore end with the striker to cock the same, an apertured lug on the sear spaced vertically from the sear pivot, a rod pivoted to the striker at one end and slidably received in the aperture in said lug on the sear, and a coil spring on said rod and acting in one direction to move the striker to fired position and in the other direction to urge the sear into cooking engagement with the striker. c 30. In a firing mechanism for a gun of the class described, a pivoted striker, a springguiding rod pivoted at one end to the striker, means slidably supporting the rod adjacent its other end, a spring surrounding the rod, and a spring retainer including a springholding portion and end flanges through which said rod extends and between which the spring is held under compression, facilitating the assembling and disassembling of the striker and related parts.

31. In a firing mechanism for a of the class described, a pivoted stri r, a spring-guiding rod pivoted at one end to the striker', means slidably supporting the rod adjacent its other end, a spring surrounding the rod, a spring retainer including a springholding portion and end flanges through which said rod extends, and a sleeve slidably mounted in the rod aperture of the front flange, and adapted to engage a shoulder on the rod with its front end and to provide a front bearing for the spring at its rear end, said spring bearing at its other end against the rear flange of the retainer.

32. In a gun of the class described, a barrel, a receiver therefor, a breech-closure u nit including a reciprocating block carryin a firing pin, an extractor and extractor spring and one or more action-plates, a receiver cap pivoted at the upper intermediate portion of the receiver and adapted to close-in the rear portion thereof, said breech-closure unit being bodily removable from the receiver in the open position of said cap, the receiver and barrel being then wholly exposed at the rear in direct prolongationof the axis of the bore, for cleaning and inspection urposes.

33. In a firearm, a reciprocating breech block, an extractor including a portion seating in a longitudinal face of theA block and a cartridge-engaging toe at the front face of the block, and cooperating rib-and-groove formations on the extractor and the block providing for relative transverse sliding movement between them and' also a slight rocking movement of the extractor. 1

34. In a firing mechanism for a gun of the class described, a pivoted striker,- oted sear engageable with the striker to cock the same, the sear having an apertred portion spaced transversely from the sear ivot a rod pivoted to the striker at one en and slidably received in said apertured portion of the sear, and a coil spring on said rod a pivacting to move the striker to fired position` and to urge the sear into cooking engagement 'with the striker.

35. In combination, -in a gun having a receiver, a breech block reciprocable in the receiver, `a firing pin movable in the block, extractor mechanism carried by the block and including an extractor proper and an extractor spring, a transverse recess in the block, and transversely extending means on the rear portion of said extractor mechanism, said means received in said recess4 and cooperating With the firing pin to limit movement thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH C. WHITE. 

